James R. Hughes

James “Jim” Hughes, a native of Tazewell, Virginia, was selected for induction into the Emory & Henry Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. A 1963 graduate of the College, Hughes was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football four years, basketball two years, and baseball three years. He was pitcher and third baseman for the 1963 baseball team which captured the Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship.

Hughes was a leader, taking the role of pitcher on the baseball team and quarterback on the football team. He was co-captain of the undefeated 1962 football team that won the District VI NAIA Championship.

Hughes coached at John S. Battle High School near Bristol for nearly four years after graduating. In 1967, he was named Teacher of the Year at Battle High School and Coach of the Year for the Southwest District for basketball. Later that year, he joined the coaching staff at Emory & Henry, where he subsequently became head football coach and athletic director. In 1973, the Wasps were named most outstanding small college team in Virginia and he was the state Coach of the Year.

Hughes moved on from E&H in 1977 to become an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech University. Hughes left the coaching profession to become general manager of Cookeville, Tennessee’s building supply company.